Here We Go Again

On Monday, January 31, 2011, the adventure cruise line M/V Polar Star struck an uncharted rock while anchoring near Detaille Island off of Antarctica. Passengers aboard the Polar Star got a small taste of what it must have felt like aboard the Titanic when it hit an iceberg on April 15, 1912.

Eighty passengers, including 32 Americans, were traveling from Ushuaia, Argentina, to the Drake Passage (between Ushuaia and Antarctica), then back to Ushuaia. No injuries were reported. The ship suffered minor damage and within hours was able to travel at a safe cruising speed, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. Although the damage on the M/V Polar Star was minor, the Drake Passage is known for rough seas, so on Wednesday, February 2, the Polar Star captain and other officials made the decision to evacuate the ship.